www.wicorn.org Winter 2015

Feb. 4-5 Corn/Soy Expo, Wisconsin DellsFeb. 4 WCGA/WCPB Annual Meetings, Wisconsin DellsMarch 2-5 Commodity Classic, New OrleansMarch 29-31 WPS Farm Show, Oshkosh

Corn GrowerCalendar

Wisconsin Corn Growers Association

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took a step in the right direction in announcing its final renewable fuel requirement for corn ethanol on Nov. 30.

“We are pleased the EPA revised its original proposal toward complying with the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS),” said Casey Kelleher, WCGA president. “The RFS is working as in-tended by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, decreasing our reliance on foreign oil, lowering gasoline prices for consumers and increasing economic stability in rural America.”

“The fact remains that the EPA still is not meeting the statutory amount set by Congress. Unfortunately, Big Oil’s misinformation and influence is guiding EPA and taking advan-tage of consumers,” said Kelleher.

EPA’s final ethanol Reformulated Volume Obligation (RVO) rule remains 5% below statute, but is 3% higher than its May 2015 proposal.

Bob and Kathy Oleson Retire from Corn GrowersBob and Kathy Oleson will step down at the end of the year from their position managing the Wisconsin Com Promotion Board (WCPB) and the Wisconsin Com Growers Association (WCGA). Bob and Kathy assumed the joint role in 1998 to fill a half-time position by the WCGA through a contract with the WCPB.

David Adams, WCPB president said, “the organization was blessed to have both Bob and Kathy. Their dedication to corn growers went be-yond just working for the organizations.”

The Olesons operated their grain op-eration near Palmyra until two years ago, while managing the corn pro-grams.

“We have been honored to work with a great group of leaders over the years,” said Bob. “We have thor-oughly enjoyed working with them to increase the effectiveness of both associations.”

EPA’s Final Corn Ethanol Renewable Fuel Standard Rule an Improvement

WCGA ContactsNicole Wagner, Executive Director262-372-3289nicole@wicorn.org

Tom Thieding, Communications Director608-575-9200tom@wicorn.org

Nicole Wagner Selected as New Corn Program Executive DirectorThe Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board (WCPB) has selected Nicole Wagner, Sussex, as its new executive director. Nicole will also manage the WCGA through a contract with the WCPB. Wagner has a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and a bachelor’s in journalism and mass communication from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She has previously worked for marketing communications agencies, including EPIC Creative, Charleston|Orwig, and Z2. Wagner grew up on a row crop and farrow-to-finish hog operation in North Central Indiana. After moving to Wisconsin, she remained involved with agriculture through 4-H and FFA.

Chris Novak, National Corn CEO, Featured at CORN PAC Breakfast, Feb. 5The NCGA CEO, Chris Novak, will be the guest speaker at the CORN PAC Breakfast on Thursday, Feb. 5 during the Wisconsin Corn/Soy Expo.

Prior to NCGA, Chris was with the National Pork Board, the Indiana Corn Marketing Council, Indiana Corn Grow-ers Association and Indiana Soybean Alliance.

The CORN PAC Breakfast is one of the ways WCGA raises money for its political action efforts. The cost for the buffet breakfast is $30. Register for the CORN PAC Breakfast when you register for the Corn/Soy Expo. Walk-ins the day of the breakfast are welcome.

Wisconsin Corn Growers to Serve on National Corn Grower TeamsSeveral WCGA members have been selected to serve on National Corn Grower Association Action Teams and committees. In these roles, they will actively shape the future of the industry by guiding programs that carry out NCGA policies and priorities. Those leaders include:

Randy Woodruff, Chippewa Falls – Production & Stewardship Action TeamJayne Dalton, Endeavor – Grower Services Action TeamJim Zimmerman, Rosendale – National Corn Growers Association Board, Finance CommitteeBill Hoffman, Columbus – USDA Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Grains, Feed and OilseedsGraham Adsit, Cambridge and Cal Dalton, Endeavor – Ethanol Action Team

WCGA Board Elections in FebruaryAre you interested in becoming more involved with the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association? Elections will be held during the WCGA Annual Meeting at Corn/Soy Expo. Three director positions will be up for election. Directors are elected for a three-year term, serving a maximum of three terms and will have opportunities to provide leadership and direction at the national level. Board members provide strategic direction on state and federal policy, producer outreach programs, and consumer education efforts.

If interested in running for the WCGA board, contact Nicole Wagner at 262-372-3289 or nicole@wicorn.org.

CORNPAC

MemberLeadership

A great 2015 growing season for Wisconsin corn growers was reflected in yields of the WCGA Corn Yield Contest. Contests were held for growers in Columbia County, Dodge/Fond du Lac Counties, Juneau/Adams/Marquette Counties, and statewide. First place winners received $500, second place $250 and third place $100.

WISCONSINCORN YIELD

CONTEST

Great Yields by Winners in 2015 WCGA Corn Yield Contest

Columbia County 1. Tom Manke, Arlington, 276 bu/acre2. James Krueger, Cambria, 262 bu/acre3. Joe Berger, Cambria, 242 bu/acre

Dodge/Fond du Lac Counties1. Charles Hammer, Beaver Dam, 281 bu/acre2. Vellena Farms, Waupun, 266 bu/acre3. Melvin Gunnink, Brandon, 252 bu/acre

Juneau/Adams/Marquette1. Cal Dalton, Endeavor, 256 bu/acre2. Kevin Bork, Grand Marsh, 253 bu/acre3. Joanne Dalton, Endeavor, 252 bu/acre

Statewide1. Laskowski Farm, Plover, 304 bu/acre2. Arndt Farms, Janesville, 264 bu/acre3. Steve Duwe, Johnson Creek, 258 bu/acre

Updates to Implements of Husbandry Law ProposedLegislation to clarify the Implements of Husbandry (IOH) Law was recently introduced with a hearing held on a bill on Dec. 8. WCGA registered in support of the bill that includes these items:

1. All IOH will have to meet state lighting standards, even new machines. It was assumed that new machines would meet this and so was not required before. Now all IOH will be treated the same. The buyers will need to confirm this at the time of purchase.

2. Clarifies that any “farm-related destination” counts as an IOH destination for the exemptions and permits. This helps because farmers were not covered for all normal activities.

3. Allows one permit for identical machines or attachments. So if farmers have two iden-tical tractors or implements, they can use them interchangeably on one permit.

4. Clarifies that SMV emblems cannot be used instead of reflectors or lights on the sides of certain agricultural vehicle trains.

5. Clarifies that the requirement under current law that dealers must disclose the axle and gross vehicle weights of a farm implement at time of sale must be done in writing.

WCGA Members Travel to Promote U.S. Grain QualityKen Rosenow, Oconomowoc, and Jim Birchman, Fennimore, will be part of grower teams traveling abroad with the U.S. Grains Council in January to promote U.S. grain quality. The U.S. Grains Council released its annual Corn Harvest Quality Report, which has become a globally anticipated event.

Rosenow and Birchman, along with corn growers from other states, will present the report’s findings to customers in overseas markets to provide them the critical information they need to make informed purchases and build confidence in the quality of this year’s U.S. corn crop.

Rosenow will travel to Moroco and Egypt, while Birchman will travel to Japan and Taiwan. The U.S. Grains Council’s Corn Quality Rollouts include presentations to traders, feed millers, major livestock producers and gov-ernment officials. To read the Corn Quality Report, go to: http://grains.org/sites/default/files/HarvestReport-20151216.pdf

LegislativeAction

U.S. Senate Fails to Block EPA’s Bad Waters of U.S. RuleThe U.S. Senate failed to block the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule in November when it could not get enough support on a procedural vote that would have allowed the Senate to take up a bill to stop the rule. Senator Ron Johnson voted in favor of the Senate pro-ceeding to take up S. 1140. The Senate did approve a Congressional Review Act resolution disapproving of EPA’s rule, but the President vetoed the mea-sure. Senator Ron Johnson also voted in favor of the CRA.

It is more likely the fate of the rule will play out in federal courts. The WOTUS rule already has taken effect, but is not being implemented due to a national injunction issued by the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Internal U.S. Army Corps of Engineers memorandums show the Corps questioned the legality of the rule days before it was finalized. EPA largely ignored those concerns in the final rule.

“Congress has the ability and the responsibility to determine what the law means. Congress should not defer this decision to the courts.”

Casey Kelleher, president WCGA

Crop Insurance Cut RepealedCongress repealed a $3 billion cut to the federal crop insurance program when it extended federal highway funding for the next five years. This cut would have hurt farmers by reducing their access to crop insurance.

WCGA gave credit to Speaker of the U.S.House of Representatives, Paul Ryan, for allowing the crop insurance repeal to be included in the highway funding bill. NCGA said it was also pleased to see Congress finally move forward on a long-term funding solution for our nation’s highways, roads and bridges.

PROGRAM FOR THURSDAY, FEB. 4

7:30 am Registration Opens8:00 Early Riser Session - Weather Outlook Leon Osborn, North Dakota State University8:30 Pork Quality Assurance Plus Certification - UW-Extension Swine Team 9:00 General Session - What to Expect from Washington (Sponsored by Asgrow Dekalb) Barry Flinchbaugh & Jim Weisenmeyer State Issues Panel Presidents of Soybean, Pork and Corn Associations11:00 Trade Show Opens11:30 Buffet Lunch12:00 pm Annual Meetings WSA/WSMB & WCGA/WCPB12:30 WPA Annual Meeting1:30 Educational Breakouts (Choose 1) A. Pork Cooking Session B. Corn & Soybean Diseases of 2015 C. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles D. Soil Health Initiative2:30 Trade Show Time & Break3:00 Educational Breakouts (Choose 1) A. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles B. First Steps to Calculating Yield Gaps for WI Soybean Growers C. Is the Corn-Soybean Rotation Sustainable? D. Protecting Water Quality E. Managing Swine Reproduction & Antibiotic Changes 4:00 Trade Show & Break4:30 Educational Breakouts (Choose 1) A. First Steps to Calculating Yield Gaps for WI Soybean Growers B. Succession Planning C. A Frank Discussion on Implements of Husbandry D. Risk Management Tools for Farmers5:30 Trade Show Reception (Sponsored by Syngenta)6:15 Taste of Elegance (Sponsored by Wisconsin Pork Association)

Barry Flinchbaugh

Jim Weisenmeyer

LeonOsborn

PROGRAM FOR FRIDAY, FEB. 5

7:00 am Trade Show Opens/Registration Opens (Serving coffee, juice, rolls and fruit) CORN PAC Breakfast Buffet with Chris Novak, CEO, National Corn Growers Association (Separate $30 fee applies.)7:30 Breakfast and Discussions with the WI Pork Assn. Board (RSVP requested.)8:00 Early Riser Session - Machinery Pete Greg Peterson talks about machinery prices and trends9:00 General Session - Marketing & Outlook (Sponsored by Pioneer) Jolene Brown, Paul Mitchell Transport Quality Assurance for Livestock Haulers11:00 Trade Show Opens12:30 pm Lunch with UW Marching Band2:00 Bonus Agronomic Session Crop Consultant and Farm Journal Consulting Agronomist Missy Bauer and UW Extension Soybean Specialist Shawn Conley

EDUCATIONAL BREAKOUT DESCRIPTIONS

• Pork Cooking Session with Chef Mitchel Weber, Piggy’s Restaurant, La Crosse, 2015 Taste of Elegance winner

• Corn and Soybean Diseases of 2015 with UW Ext. Plant Pathology Specialist Damon Smith

• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles with founder of Colby Ag Tech, Chad Colby

• Soil Health Initiative with Soil Health Partnership Manager Nick Goeser

• First Steps to Calculating Yield Gaps for WI Soybean Growers with UW Ext. Soybean Specialist Shawn Conley (Bring your field notes)

• Is the Corn-Soybean Rotation Sustainable? with UW Ext. Corn Specialist Joe Lauer

• Protecting Water Quality with research results from Discovery Farms & Yahara Pride

• Succession Planning with George Twohig• A Frank Discussion on Implements of Husbandry with Rep. Keith

Ripp, Brad Kremer, and Randy Hughes

Chris Novak

Jolene Brown

Greg Peterson

Feb. 4-5, 2016Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells

Register Online: wwwcornsoyexpo.org

Build a Strong Voice for Wisconsin Corn GrowersIncrease WCGA’s influence by recuriting fellow corn growers and business partners to join the association. Give the prospect this newsletter to show them the work WCGA is doing on behalf of Wisconsin corn growers.

A three-year membership will reward members a $100 coupon for seed corn from one of the supporting companies. Mem-bers are eligible for other benefits, including a $50 discount for the Corn/Soy Expo Feb. 4-6.

WCGA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONEnclosed is $60.00 for annual dues or $150.00 for 3 year dues [ ] New [ ] Renewal

[ ] I’m adding a $10 Corn PAC Contribution to my dues.

Name________________________________________Business/Company_____________________________________Address________________________________________________________________________________City & State________________________________________________________ Zip__________________County____________________ Telephone_______________ Email________________________________Credit Card #: ______________________________ Expiration Date: ____________ Security Code: ________

Grower MembershipAffiliate Membership: Type of Business_______________________________________

Return to: Wisconsin Corn Growers AssociationW226N5956 Lynwood Drive, Lisbon, WI 53089

Phone: 262-372-3983

Dues paid to WCGA are not deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes. However, they may be tax deductible under other provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

Wisconsin Receives USDA Grant for Ethanol Pump Installation ProgramWisconsin is the recipient of a $3.7 million USDA grant to expand and support the installation of ethanol blending equipment at retail gas stations throughout the state. The project aims to:

• Install a minimum of 100 new ethanol blending sites on or near the major fleets and travel corridors throughout Wisconsin. • Launch a comprehensive marketing and outreach program in conjunction with the deployment of stations.

This is a collaborative effort between the Public Service Commission, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board, Wisconsin BioFuels Association, American Lung Association of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Clean Cities, Jetz Convenience Stores, Kwik Trip, Inc., and Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association

Approximately 20 stations now offer blends such as E15, E20, E25, E30 and E85. This project assists the industry which includes local infrastructure and correlated use of Wisconsin-produced ethanol.

PRIME THE PUMP

WCGA DirectorsCasey Kelleher, WhitewaterBen Augustine, SheldonBrian Long, Weyauwega Steve Duwe, Johnson Creek Joe Lauer, UW Extension Corn SpecialistCorey Leis, Cashton Doug Rebout, JanesvilleCrystal Romanowski, StanleyPete Wendt, East TroyZeb Zuehls, Montello

AFFILIATE DIRECTORSTommy Jackson, Syngenta Andy Grebner, BASF

Register for 2016 Commodity ClassicThe 2016 Commodity Classic will be held March 2-5 in New Orleans. Get more information at http://www.commodity classic.com.

MEMBER BENEFITS

ON THE INSIDE:Register for Corn Soy ExpoNCGA CEO Guest at CORN PAC BreakfastNew Corn Program LeaderCorn Yield ContestUSDA Grant for Ethanol Pumps

WisconsinCorn Growers

Associationwww.wicorn.org

Wisconsin Corn Growers AssociationW226 N5956 Lynwood Dr.Lisbon, WI 53089

WISCONSINCORN YIELD

CONTEST

$100 SEED CORN COUPON

Join or renew with a three-year membership and receive one $100 coupon toward the purchase of seed corn from one of these supporting companies.

LegislativeAction

ConsumerEducation

Corn Promotion

Work on local, state and national issues to protect farm profitability.

Participate in state and national corn yield contests with cash awards.

Promote of ethanol and corn prod-ucts and development of new uses.

10% discount on purchase of Cabela’s gift cards.

Educate students and consumers on corn production and corn products.

Direct access to race updates, exclusive access to NASCAR gad-gets, gear, race tickets and more.

Reduced prices on dozens of Ford and Lincoln vehicles.

Registration discount for Wisconsin corn and soybean growers to meet with industry reps and attend seminars.